I have a question. If the dx is IC, why the long course of abs? This seems to be (almost) standard protocol with suspected IC pigs, but since IC doesn't have anything to do with bacteria, I'm wondering why we risk messing up their guts for extended periods of time if the cause isn't, ultimately, bacterial. Is it to rule out the possibility of a stubborn UTI? Do abs actually do something to help reduce the bladder wall thickening? Am I missing something and the cause of IC really IS bacterial in origin?

I'm only asking because I'm about to go through this whole rigamarole with Astro. :( She's so tiny, I don't want to do ANYthing that could compromise her eating habits, but her overall health obviously comes first.

Sorry for the minor hijack. I'm just super curious, and this is the major IC thread going right now. Booooooo on IC.

For Purdie it is to make sure that it is not a stubborn UTI, as I believe there are some infections that can take at least a couple of weeks to shift. Purdie had been on Baytril twice and Bactrim once already but both for only 10 days which wouldn't have been long enough. This time she is to be on the Bactrim for 3 weeks.

If after that (or regardless of that) she continues to struggle then it will no longer just be suspected IC :/

I think the vet also wants to monitor her properly after the two weeks to compare with the results at the first visit, as it was a different vet practise we went to for the previous treatments.

I'm still working my way through all those IC threads but I think some pigs have received pulse AB therapy which has helped?

I think the pulse AB therapy might be a bit of a placebo - given the fact that IC itself comes and goes within days, who's to tell if the AB therapy actually helped?

I think the stubborn UTI thing is a good thing to rule out at the onset of piddle problems - but after that, I dunno. I, too, haven't actually digested all of the IC threads (though I've read all of them - and then my eyeballs nearly fell out). It just seems like given what IC actually is, the only thing you can really do is to manage the pain and make sure the pig in question is getting plenty of fluids. Maybe polycitra to help prevent stones later? Anyway, be sure to keep us updated on how Purdie does with the longer course of ABs - best wishes for her. Astro sends her empathy. :-/

I always put them right next to the words I want to be bolded. It's the most direct and nothing seems to be messed up. When the tags start before the [ list ] tag or [ * ] tag, things do seem to be thrown off.

I really like how you are adding a sentence to summarize the post. It gives people an idea of what the content is without reading the whole thing - but they can read the whole thing if they want too.

No kidding. Her ability to dig up relevant info is mind-boggling. And I thought *I* was good at using search features! I can find nearly anything on Google, but bringing up specific threads here on GL always leaves me stumped. Thank goodness for tracis. :)

It's about a week in now I think and Purdie is still crying when she pees. Not all the time, but that is the same as before. She isn't crying as much so the Rimadyl seems to be having some pain relief effect but not as much as I had hoped.

Her follow up is next week, but I'm definitely worried that the pain relief doesn't seem to be strong enough, especially as she is on the correct dose for her weight.

Thanks Bugs Mom :) I know we are working on getting her sorted, but it's so hard to see her cry even a little when she pees. She's being such a good girl at taking her meds as well, I just wish I could tell her we were trying to make her better.

Here's how it happens with my Momo: She seems to have 2-3 days off where she cries when she pees, and when i pick her up i notice her vagina is wet and there's alot of calcium deposits.
I give her extra fluids that day and some metacam and she seems to do fine for the rest of the day.

Then on the second or third day she becomes totally fine, no crying at all and no wet bottom. Then after 3 weeks or so it repeats itself again.

Have you tried increasing fluids with Purdie? I do hope she finds some confort soon.

I'm giving Purdie extra fluids via syringe, and we also have a couple of water bottles dedicated to cranberry water now which seems to increase fluid intake of everyone.

With Purdie, I'm having a hard time detecting a pattern. I think that if there is a pattern, it actually changes every few hours at most rather than being in days :/ There isn't a day goes past when she doesn't cry when she pees, but she doesn't cry every time she pees. Her bottom is dry and there are no white deposits.

Purdie was given Metacam to have at 0.2ml daily for the last two weeks. At first I noticed no improvement but now I think I can say that it is more effective than the Rimadyl was. However, it hasn't got rid of the pain completely by any means, she still cries every day :/

Our next appointment is tomorrow morning, I really hope we can get her some relief soon. I will ask about Polycitra and I'm going to look online as to where to get Shilintong.